In the spectator stands.
Wu Qi personally watched the match between Skywater Academy and the Elephant Armor Team.
Tomorrow's opponent for the Seven Treasure Team would be the Elephant Armor Team, so this was the perfect opportunity to assess Huyan Li and the others in advance.
After obtaining the immortal herbs, Shui Bing'er had advanced to a high-level Spirit Ancestor.
With her top-tier control-type martial soul combined with such formidable Spirit Power, she kept her opponents almost completely immobilized throughout the match.
The Elephant Armor Team never had a chance to showcase anything impressive before they were eliminated.
As Wu Qi analyzed the match, he sensed someone approaching beside him. Smiling faintly, he turned his head.
"Old man, you've been missing for so many days. What made you decide to come watch the tournament today?"
Dugu Bo had never been particularly interested in the preliminary rounds.
First, Dugu Yan's Heaven Dou Royal Academy First Team did not participate in the preliminaries, naturally giving him less reason to pay attention.
Second, with Dugu Bo's experience, he could already predict which teams would qualify.
Once there was no suspense, there was little reason to watch.
Dugu Bo replied calmly,
"You were right, kid. Shi Nian has finally made his move."
"Tell me everything," Wu Qi said, immediately becoming serious.
After several days of competition, a Spirit Sage like Shi Nian had already gained a thorough understanding of every team's strength.
By comparing their performances, he could easily determine which teams Canghui Academy could defeat and which they could not.
Following Wu Qi's warning, Dugu Bo had been secretly tracking Shi Nian.
Earlier that day, Shi Nian had followed the vice-captain of the Silves Team, lured him outside the city with his spiritual power, and secretly imprisoned him.
Since it was his first move, Shi Nian remained cautious. This seemed more like a test run than a full operation.
If the tournament organizers failed to react, he would undoubtedly take further action later.
Wu Qi analyzed.
"The Silves Team is fairly strong, ranking somewhere in the upper-middle tier. Their overall strength should be roughly equal to Canghui Academy's. Doesn't Shi Nian even have confidence in that?"
Dugu Bo explained,
"The Silves Team's vice-captain is a notorious womanizer who has relationships with numerous female spectators. Shi Nian specifically targeted him because of his questionable character."
That made perfect sense.
After all, if a notorious womanizer disappeared for a few days, most people wouldn't immediately realize he had gone missing.
Wu Qi gestured calmly.
"Don't rush to deal with Shi Nian. The spirit bone is still on him, and it isn't going anywhere."
"Keep watching him. We'll make our move when the time is right."
The following morning, the opening match featured the Seven Treasure Team against the Elephant Armor Team.
A clash between one of the tournament favorites and a long-established powerhouse naturally attracted tremendous attention.
As a result, every seat in the arena was filled.
The entire Shrek Academy group had also arrived early to watch from the stands.
Inside the waiting room.
Feng Xiaotian volunteered first.
"I'll take this one. Even if everything falls apart, my wind can still blow them out of the arena."
Knowing about the grudge between them and the Elephant Armor Clan, Wu Qi readily agreed.
"Same lineup as usual. All four substitutes will play, along with Xiaotian, Wushuang, and Chen Ping."
Changkong looked dissatisfied with the arrangement.
"Brother Wu, I really don't like those Elephant Armor guys. Let me fight. My Coiling Dragon Staff has been itching for a battle."
Wu Qi glanced at him and shrugged.
"Sure. If someone else agrees to switch places with you, I have no objection."
Changkong immediately turned toward Zhu Guangzhi.
Among everyone present, Zhu Guangzhi possessed the lowest Spirit Power at Level 39.
Grinning, Changkong said, "Brother Zhu, this match is too much for you. You'd better let me handle it."
Honest by nature, Zhu Guangzhi didn't know how to refuse.
Seeing his awkward expression, Wang Lang patted Changkong on the shoulder.
"Brother Changkong, this match suits Guangzhi better. Why don't you switch with me instead?"
His martial soul was the Bloodthirsty Demon Wolf, an agility-attack type.
Against the massive, heavily built members of the Elephant Armor Team, his offensive abilities would be severely limited.
Swapping places with Changkong was the better choice.
Before long, both teams stepped onto the arena.
Since they were competing in this match, Wu Qi and the rest of the main team were seated in the spectator area closest to the arena.
On the platform, Huyan Li noticed that Wu Qi wasn't participating and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Before the match, Elephant Armor Academy had already concluded that their chances of winning were slim.
Even Huyan Zhen hadn't come to watch today's match, clearly having little confidence in their prospects.
Still, unwilling to show weakness and determined to teach Feng Xiaotian and the others a lesson, Huyan Li forced himself to face the challenge.
Usually calm and composed, Feng Xiaotian unexpectedly began the pre-match exchange with a threat.
"Huyan Li, if I ever see you again in Element City, I'll beat you every single time."
Still unaware of Feng Xiaotian's true strength, Huyan Li replied.
"Feng Xiaotian, your strength may be impressive, but aren't you afraid of biting off more than you can chew with words like that?"
Huo Wushuang snorted.
"Enough talk. Let your strength do the talking. If you're real men, don't surrender later. Fight until the very end."
The members of the Elephant Armor Team glared fiercely, their tempers already flaring before the battle had even begun.
Before the match, they had specifically practiced tactics to deal with Feng Xiaotian. As long as they managed to catch him today, they intended to leave him bedridden for at least ten days to half a month.
Although there was bad blood between the two sides, the customary pre-match etiquette still had to be observed.
Huyan Li cupped his fists and introduced himself.
"Huyan Li, captain of the Elephant Armor Team. Level 43 Defense System Battle Spirit Ancestor."
Feng Xiaotian replied simply,
"Feng Xiaotian, Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Master."
Huyan Li frowned.
"Not even stating your Spirit Power Level? Aren't you looking down on us a little too much?"
As he spoke, he turned to the referee and lodged a complaint.
The referee explained.
"The pre-match introductions are entirely voluntary. The tournament rules do not require competitors to reveal their strength."
Below the arena, Sun Buyu laughed heartily.
"Now that I think about it, announcing your strength before a match really is a foolish tradition."
"Xiaotian has already fought several times, yet no one still knows his true strength. I wonder if Huyan Li will regret all his pre-match boasting after he sees Xiaotian's Spirit Rings."
Leaning back in his chair, Wu Qi said calmly,
"If you're expecting a bunch of arrogant people to realize their mistakes, you'd have better luck waiting for the sun to rise in the west."
The match began.
Filled with anger, Huyan Li shouted.
"Formation!"
Every member of the Elephant Armor Team immediately activated their first Spirit Skill and gathered together, forming a solid human wall.
Huyan Li and his teammates were all enormously built. Although they specialized in defense, their physical strength was equally formidable.
Against most teams, such an impenetrable wall would leave them completely helpless until they were forced off the edge of the arena.
But the Seven Treasure Team was no ordinary team.
Changkong roared, "Damn it! I've been sick of looking at you lot for a long time!"
"Fourth Spirit Skill, Coiling Dragon Army Breaker!"
Ning Tianyu immediately provided support.
"Seven Treasures turn to Glazed Light. Seven Treasures' First: Strength."
Brilliant seven-colored light descended upon Changkong, increasing his strength by fifty percent.
Gripping the Coiling Dragon Staff, Changkong swung it with overwhelming force.
The devastating blow slammed directly into the Elephant Armor Team's human wall, knocking Huyan Qi off his feet.
Had the others not immediately tightened their formation, Changkong's attack would have broken straight through their defensive wall.
---
If you like story please donate some power stones and leave a review
For additional chapters
Join pateron.com/Translaterappu